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A return of Glasgow derbies between Rangers and Celtic will benefit Scottish football, according to the Ibrox club's caretaker manager.

Kenny McDowall - who is serving 12 months' notice - was speaking ahead of Sunday's Scottish League Cup semi-final at Hampden Park.

It will be the first meeting between the sides for more than three years since Rangers' problems.

"I think Scottish football needs this fixture," he told BBC Scotland. "Hopefully it will help Scotland get back to better things in the future."

You can listen to a special on Rangers' situation at 20:30 GMT on BBC Radio 5 live.

Aham Ebogu: Surprised nobody seems to have called for Boubacar Diarra's sack!

Mali football association president Diarra is the man who eliminated his country from the Africa Cup of Nations after drawing unlucky number three in lots.

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Who do you think has been the best January signing? Well have your say - we've picked 10 to choose from which you can find at the top of this page on a mobile device and on the right-hand side on our desktop site.

We will reveal the winner at 21:30 GMT. Terms and conditions are here if you're into that kind of thing.

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Samuel Eto'o can't wait to get going at Sampdoria. Maybe. He certainly hasn't painted that picture.

The Cameroon legend, who played under Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan, has joined the Genoa club from Everton this week.

"There is so much difference to when I last came to Italy," the 33-year-old said.

"When I last came to Italy it was the moment that so many players were leaving, champions such as Kaka, Andriy Shevchenko, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

"It's a crisis moment, there aren't the financial resources, but football is still about what happens on the pitch and in the stadium. At the end of the day I hope I can help Sampdoria win."

There's live football on tonight too and it's huge if you're into the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

BBC Sport's Caroline Chapman sets the scene: "Was there ever a more glamorous Thursday night game than Bristol City v Gillingham in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy southern area final? I think not.

"Both sets of fans here at a freezing cold Ashton Gate know what might await them at full-time: Wembley… and perhaps a bit of frostbite.

"High-flying Bristol City have a nice 4-2 lead over the Gills from the first leg, but have the hosts had enough time to recover from their FA Cup antics on Sunday against West Ham?

"Whatever happens tonight it will be an all-League One affair at the national stadium in March, with Walsall awaiting them in the final. "

Only two Premier League signings so far today and both of them have been by Pards at Palace.

Midfielder Jordon Mutch moved across London from QPR and striker Shola Ameobi's unmemorable spell with Turkish second tier side Gaziantep is now well and truly over.

The 33-year-old forward scored 53 league goals during his 1,000-year spell with Newcastle.

If you've missed any signings today, here's our comprehensive list from the transfers page which you can find here.

Hands up who predicted a Kozakken Boys - Burton transfer.

Let us know who your club need to sign this month. Do Arsenal need to sign Sergio Busquets? Could Swansea do with Shane Long? Or do Cambridge need Dion Dublin back?

Hit us up using #bbcsportsday on Twitter or text us on 81111 (UK only, and please let us know your name).

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Leicester are interested in signing Stoke defender Robert Huth on loan, according to Press Association Sport.

The former Chelsea emergency striker, now 30, has made just four appearances this season and has struggled with a recent knee injury.

Tangentially, PA played Football Manager for hours this week - all in the name of research - to find out who scouts selected as key targets for each team.

Huth was a top target for West Ham by this theory, while Leicester should be moving for Watford's Gabriele Angella, West Ham's James Collins or Crystal Palace's Damien Delaney.

Read more from PA's Football Manager experiment here., external

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So let's start with the most bizarre football story of the day.

Guinea reached the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals because one man drew a number three out of a bowl, while another man drew the number two.

Guinea and Mali ended Group D exactly joint on everything, having drawn all their games 1-1. So it went down to lots.

But instead of getting it over and done with in yesterday's post-match news conference it was delayed until this afternoon in a hotel in Equatorial Guinea.

Mali's football association president Boubacar Diarra went first and pulled out the ball that placed them third in the group.

With Diarra in tears, Amara Dabo, financial director of the Guinea sports ministry, then became the unlikeliest of football heroes by drawing the ball that confirmed his side in second place.

Read more about that here.

With only two business days left until the transfer deadline, we are going to keep Sportsday Live going all night long (or until 22:00 GMT anyway).

So what can you expect in this bonus three hours of Sportsday?

• We will discuss any football stories you might have missed today.

• We will bring you up to date on any confirmed signings or rumours tonight.

• You can have your say on who you want your club to buy.

• And you can vote on the best Premier League signing so far this month (more on that soon).

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Blizzard conditions brought a premature end to Mercedes' maiden outing of this year's new challenger for the Formula One world titles.

The reigning constructors' champions kickstarted their campaign with a promotional day of track time - allowed under FIA regulations - at Silverstone.

The car, known as the F1 W06 Hybrid, took to the Northamptonshire circuit just after 1pm with Nico Rosberg at the wheel nefore he handed over to team-mate and current drivers' champion Lewis Hamilton.

The duo completed a total of 18 laps, just over 47 kilometres, before heavy snow brought filming to a halt. The car will make its full debut on Sunday in the first pre-season test in Jerez.

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Captain Eoin Morgan hopes England can reach the final of the one-day tri-series to aid their preparations for the upcoming World Cup.

The winners of Friday's game with India in Perth will go forward to meet hosts Australia at the same venue on Sunday.

Morgan told BBC Sport: "I don't think it's added pressure. If we win and go through to the final it will give us momentum and confidence going into the World Cup. I think that's key within itself. We'll focus on tomorrow's game and hopefully produce our best."

England have lost both of their games against Australia in the tournament but beat India by nine wickets in their first meeting on 20 January.

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Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge says he is "anxious and excited" as he prepares to return from five months out injured.

The 25-year-old, who could return against West Ham on Saturday, also told BBC Radio 5 live that the mental side of his game has improved during his layoff with calf and thigh injuries.

"I'm just focusing on training hard and whenever the staff feel is the right time for me to get back involved I will be," he said

"I'm just looking forward to getting back involved - that's the main thing for me. I'm feeling great. I can't wait to get back playing again. It's been very frustrating but it's all a learning curve."

It now appears that David Ginola has not withdrawn from the race to become Fifa president.

Although the former French midfielder's website reiterates that the crowdfunding page is now closed and all donations will be returned to those that have pledged, it simply adds that "the campaign for change goes on".

The Football Association has formally nominated Prince Ali of Jordan as a candidate to stand against Sepp Blatter for the Fifa presidency.

The decision was rubber-stamped at an FA board meeting - but board members also welcomed the decision by Dutch FA president Michael van Praag to run for the presidency.

FA chairman Greg Dyke said after the meeting: "The board discussed the upcoming Fifa presidency election and the welcome proliferation of candidates in the race.

"We will now await Fifa's final confirmation of the candidates and look forward to assessing the manifestos of all who are entered into the election on 29 May. We have said for a long time that a new approach is essential within Fifa. I welcome the chance for a considered debate in the weeks ahead before we decide where the FA casts its vote."

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Captain Sam Warburton says Wales are under pressure to beat England in their Six Nations opener on 6 February.

Wales also host Ireland and face trips to Scotland, France and Italy.

Warburton, 26, said: "If we lose then we've got three away games and we're one game down already... that's why there is quite a bit of pressure on that game to win."

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New Sheffield United hero Che Adams has told the Daily Mirror that he wants to repay boss Nigel Clough's faith in him.

The 18-year-old, who joined from non-league Ilkeston Town in November, came off the bench to score twice in the Blades' Capital One Cup semi-final against Tottenham, only for Christian Eriksen to clinch the tie at the death with a late strike.

"A few clubs were interested in me but Nigel was the reason I came here," said Adams.

"You can see in Louis Reed [Adams' 17-year-old team-mate] that he's not scared to play young players. I was at Coventry at Under-14s but that's about it. Since then I've been in non-league football until now."

Image source, Reuters

David Ginola's bid to become Fifa president appears to be at an end.

The former French midfielder's official website has been closed down with a message saying: "A huge thank you for supporting Team Ginola. The crowdfunding page is now closed. All donations will be returned to those that have pledged.

"The fight is not over. Football still needs to change. I urge you to continue to vocalize your craving for change in football in whatever way you can. Let it be known that no matter how small you think your voice may be alone, if we speak together we will be heard. Whilst FIFA may not be an open democracy for the footballing public, our opinions will be heeded, only if we persist."

Portsmouth have signed Fulham defender Josh Passley on a one-month youth loan. The 20-year-old has made two starts for Fulham in the FA Cup, and had a seven-game loan spell at Shrewsbury earlier this season.